Exercise support system

ABSTRACT

An exercise support system  10  including current physical information obtaining means  100  for obtaining the current physical information on the body of a user, desired physical information receiving means  200  for receiving desired physical information on the body desired by the user, exercise program calculating means  300  for calculating an exercise program based on the obtained current physical information and the received desired physical information, and display means  400  for displaying the calculated exercise program.

The present application claims the benefit of, and priority to, Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-131511 filed on May 7, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise support system. More particularly, the present invention relates to an exercise support system for allowing a user to do exercise according to an exercise program.

2. Description of the Related Art

In an exercise support facility such as a gym, there is a system which allows a user to input the age and select a purpose, e.g. strengthening cardiopulmonary function, reducing fat, etc. For example, if the user selects the purpose of strengthening cardiopulmonary function, the system changes the exercise load of a cardiopulmonary function strengthening apparatus according to the cardiac rate of the user.

Therefore, it is impossible for this system to allow a user to recognize the user's body shape which changes in accordance with the exercise controlled by the system.

In addition, if the user desires to have a specific body shape, it is impossible for this system to present the user with an exercise program for the body shape desired by the user.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to overcome the above drawbacks accompanying the conventional art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the problems above, according to a first aspect of the present invention, an exercise support system includes current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information on a current body of a user, desired physical information receiving means for receiving desired physical information on a body desired by the user, exercise program calculating means for calculating an exercise program based on the obtained current physical information and the received desired physical information, and presenting means for presenting the calculated exercise program.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include external body shape information obtaining means for obtaining data on a current external body shape of the user as the current physical information, and the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the data.

In the exercise support system, the external body shape information obtaining means may obtain three-dimensional data on the current external body shape of the user.

The exercise support system may further include surface area calculating means for calculating a current surface area of the user based on the three-dimensional data obtained by the external body shape information obtaining means, wherein the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the calculated surface area, the obtained current physical information, and the received desired physical information.

In the exercise support system, the desired physical information receiving means may include desired external body shape information obtaining means for receiving desired external body shape data as the desired physical information, and the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the received desired external body shape data.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include current body weight information obtaining means for obtaining current body weight data indicating current body weight of the user as the current physical information, and the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the obtained current body weight data.

In the exercise support system, the desired physical information receiving means may include desired body weight information receiving means for receiving desired body weight data indicating desired body weight as the desired physical information, and the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the received desired body weight data.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include current body fat percentage information obtaining means for obtaining current body fat percentage data indicating current body fat percentage of the user as the current physical information, and the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the obtained current body fat percentage data.

In the exercise support system, the desired physical information receiving means may include desired body fat receiving means for receiving desired body fat percentage data indicating desired body fat percentage as the desired physical information, and the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the received desired body fat percentage data.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include meal information obtaining means for obtaining meal data indicating content of current meal of the user as the current physical information, and the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program based on the obtained meal data.

The exercise support system may further include history storing means for storing a history of the current physical information of the user, wherein the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program by referring to the history.

The exercise support system may further include laterality detecting means for detecting a difference in the obtained data on the current external body shape between left and right regions of the body of the user, wherein the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program, which is different between left and right regions of the body of the user, based on the detected difference between left and right.

The exercise support system may further include exercised region table storing means for storing an exercised region table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding strength of exercise on a plurality of regions of the body are stored, wherein the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program by referring to the exercised region table.

The exercise support system may further include calorie consumption table storing means for storing a calorie consumption table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding calorie consumption are stored, wherein the exercise program calculating means may calculate the exercise program by referring to the calorie consumption table.

In the exercise support system, the exercise program calculating means may calculate a kind of exercise and an exercise time for the kind of exercise as the exercise program.

The exercise support system may further include meal program calculating means for calculating meal to be taken and a calorie intake of the meal based on the obtained current physical information, the received desired physical information, and the calculated exercise program.

In the exercise support system, the presenting means may include display means for displaying the calculated exercise program.

In the exercise support system, the presenting means may include exercise program storing means for storing the calculated exercise program which corresponds to the user.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, an exercise support system include current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information of a user, exercise program receiving means for receiving an exercise program of the user, future physical information calculating means for calculating future physical information, which is physical information when the user has exercised according to the exercise program, based on the obtained current physical information and the received exercise program, and presenting means for presenting the future physical information.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include external body shape information obtaining means for obtaining data on a current external body shape of the user as the current physical information, and the future physical information calculating means may calculate future physical information based on the data.

In the exercise support system, the external body shape information obtaining means may obtain three-dimensional data on the current external body shape of the user.

The exercise support system may further include surface area calculating means for calculating a current surface area of the user based on the three-dimensional data obtained by the external body shape information obtaining means, wherein the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information based on the calculated surface area, the obtained current physical information, and the received exercise program.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include current body weight information obtaining means for obtaining body weight data indicating current body weight of the user as the current physical information, and the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information based on the obtained body weight data.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include current body fat percentage information obtaining means for obtaining body fat percentage data indicating current body fat percentage of the user as the current physical information, and the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information based on the obtained body fat percentage data.

In the exercise support system, the current physical information obtaining means may include meal information obtaining means for obtaining meal data indicating content of current meal of the user as the current physical information, and the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information based on the obtained meal data.

The exercise support system may further include history storing means for storing a history of the current physical information of the user, wherein the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information by referring to the history.

The exercise support system may further include laterality detecting means for detecting a difference in the obtained data on the current external body shape between left and right regions of the body of the user, wherein the exercise program receiving means receives the exercise program which is different between left and right regions of the body, and the future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information, which is different between left and right regions of the body, based on the detected difference between left and right and the received exercise program.

In the exercise support system, the exercise program receiving means may include kind-of-exercise receiving means for receiving a kind of exercise and an exercise time for the kind of exercise as the exercise program, and the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information based on the kind of exercise and the received exercise time.

In the exercise support system, the exercise program receiving means may include meal program receiving means for receiving meal to be taken and a calorie intake of the meal as the exercise program, and the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information based on the meal to be taken and the received calorie intake.

The exercise support system may further include exercised region table storing means for storing an exercised region table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding strength of exercise on a plurality of regions of the body are stored, wherein the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information by referring to the exercised region table.

The exercise support system may further include calorie consumption table storing means for storing a calorie consumption table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding calorie consumption, wherein the future physical information calculating means may calculate the future physical information by referring to the calorie consumption table.

The exercise support system may further include external body shape change table storing means for storing an external body shape change table in which the exercise program and corresponding three-dimensional data on a change in the external body shape are stored, wherein the future physical information calculating means may calculate three-dimensional data as the future physical information by referring to the external body shape change table.

The exercise support system may further include measurements change table storing means for storing a measurements change table in which the exercise program and corresponding numeric value data on changes in breast, waist and hip are stored, wherein the future physical information calculating means may calculate numeric value data on breast, waist and hip as the future physical information by referring to the measurements change table.

In the exercise support system, the future physical information calculating means may calculate body fat percentage as the future physical information.

In the exercise support system, the future physical information calculating means may calculate body weight as the future physical information.

In the exercise support system, the presenting means may include display means for displaying the calculated future physical information.

In the exercise support system, the presenting means may include future physical information storing means for storing the calculated future physical information.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a computer program for allowing a computer to function as current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information on a current body of a user, desired physical information receiving means for receiving desired physical information on a body desired by the user, exercise program calculating means for calculating an exercise program based on the obtained current physical information and the received desired physical information, and presenting means for presenting the calculated exercise program.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a computer program for allowing a computer to function as current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information of a user, exercise program receiving means for receiving an exercise program of the user, future physical information calculating means for calculating future physical information, which is physical information when the user has exercised according to the exercise program, based on the obtained current physical information and the received exercise program, and presenting means for presenting the future physical information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of an exercise support system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram exemplary showing current physical information obtaining means.

FIG. 3 is a drawing exemplary showing external body shape information obtaining means.

FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of an example of desired physical information receiving means.

FIG. 5 is a drawing exemplary showing a display when desired physical information is received to desired physical information receiving means.

FIG. 6 is a drawing exemplary showing a history stored in history storing means.

FIG. 7 is a drawing exemplary showing an exercised region table stored in exercised region table storing means.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a calorie consumption table stored in calorie consumption table storing means.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart exemplary showing a process that exercise program calculating means calculates an exercise program.

FIG. 10 is a drawing exemplary showing an exercise program display displayed on display means.

FIG. 11 is a functional block diagram of an exercise support system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a functional block diagram exemplary showing exercise program receiving means.

FIG. 13 is a drawing exemplary showing a future physical information display displayed on display means.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a hardware configuration of exercise support system according to a third embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention will now be described based on the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows the functional block diagram of an exercise support system 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The exercise support system 10 includes current physical information obtaining means 100. The current physical information obtaining means 100 obtains current physical information on the current body of a user. The current physical information is, for example, three-dimensional data on the external body shape of the current body of the user, current body weight data indicating the current body weight, body fat percentage data indicating the body fat percentage, meal data indicating the contents of the current meal or a combination thereof.

The exercise support system 10 includes desired physical information receiving means 200. The desired physical information receiving means 200 receives desired physical information on a body desired by the user. The desired physical information is, for example, desired body weight data indicating the desired body weight, desired body fat percentage data indicating the desired body fat percentage or a combination thereof.

The exercise support system 10 includes exercise program calculating means 300. The exercise program calculating means 300 calculates an exercise program based on the obtained current physical information and the received desired physical information. The exercise support system 10 further includes meal program calculating means 350. The meal program calculating means 350 is connected to the exercise program calculating means 300 to calculate a meal program.

The exercise support system 10 includes presenting means 402. The presenting means 402 presents the calculated exercise program. The presenting means 402 includes display means 400 for displaying the exercise program and exercise program storing means 800 for storing the exercise program.

The exercise support system 10 further includes surface area calculating means 500. The surface area calculating means 500 calculates the surface area of the current body of the user based on the three-dimensional data obtained by external body shape information obtaining means 110 of the current physical information obtaining means 100.

The exercise support system 10 further includes history storing means 600. The history storing means 600 stores the history of the current physical information of the user.

The exercise support system 10 further includes laterality detecting means 700. The laterality detecting means 700 detects the difference in the current physical information obtained by the current physical information obtaining means 100 between the left and right of the body of the user.

The exercise support system 10 further includes exercised region table storing means 900. The exercised region table storing means 900 stores an exercised region table in which the kind of exercise and the corresponding strength of exercise on a plurality of regions of a body are stored.

The exercise support system 10 further includes calorie consumption table storing means 950. The calorie consumption table storing means 950 stores a calorie consumption table in which the kind of exercise and the corresponding calorie consumption are stored.

The exercise support system 10 further includes exercise program storing means 800. The exercise program storing means 800 stores the exercise program calculated by the exercise program calculating means 300 so that the exercise program corresponds to the user. The medium used for storage is not particularly limited. Further, when a portable medium such as an IC card is used as the storage medium, it is possible and convenient for a user to retrieve and display the exercise program which has been already calculated even with another exercise support system 10.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram exemplary showing the current physical information obtaining means 100. The current physical information obtaining means 100 includes external body shape information obtaining means 110. The external body shape information obtaining means 110 obtains three-dimensional data, for example, data on the external body shape of the current body of the user as the current physical information. The external body shape information obtaining means 110 includes cameras 112.

The current physical information obtaining means 100 further includes current bodyweight information obtaining means 120. The current body weight information obtaining means 120 obtains current body weight data indicating the current body weight of the user as the current physical information. The current body weight information obtaining means 120 is, for example, a weighing scale. But, it is not limited to this. Another example of the current body weight information obtaining means 120 is a numeric keypad for receiving the current body weight in the form of a numeric value.

The current physical information obtaining means 100 further includes current body fat percentage information obtaining means 130. The current body fat percentage information obtaining means 130 obtains current body fat percentage data indicating the current body fat percentage of the user as the current physical information. The current body fat percentage information obtaining means 130 is, for example, a body fat percentage measuring apparatus. But, it is not limited to this. Another example of the current body fat percentage information obtaining means 130 is a numeric keypad for receiving the current body fat percentage in the form of a numeric value. Moreover, the received information is not limited to the body fat percentage (FAT %), and Lean Body Mass (LBM) may be received.

The current physical information obtaining means 100 further includes meal information obtaining means 140. The meal information obtaining means 140 obtains meal data indicating the contents of the current meal of the user as the current physical information. Obtaining the meal data is, for example, presenting an ordinary menu or a list of meals and receiving the calorie intake of the meals during last week.

Further, the current physical information may be recorded in advance on a portable information transfer medium such as an IC card, in which an ID for user identification corresponds to the current physical information. In this case, the current physical information obtaining means 100 may be recorded on the information transfer medium. For example, if the information transfer medium is an IC card, the current physical information obtaining means 100 is an IC card reader.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the external body shape information obtaining means 110. The external body shape information obtaining means 110 includes an accommodating room 114 for accommodating a user 20 and cameras 112 for scanning the body of the user 20 accommodated in the accommodating room 114. In this example of the external body shape information obtaining means 110 shown in FIG. 3, two cameras 112 are provided on each of four faces of a substantially hexahedral accommodating room 114. These cameras 112 obtain the three-dimensional data on the external shape of the body of the user by photographing the user in a plurality of directions. For example, the three-dimensional data as a solid image of the user 20 is obtained with the two cameras 112 provided on laterally different positions to a front face of the user and photographing the front face. According to the external body shape information obtaining means 110, the external shape of the body of the user 20 is easily and surely obtained as the three-dimensional data. Further, the external body shape information obtaining means 110 is not limited to this. For example, the external body shape information obtaining means 110 may include a lighting system, of which the brightness changes according to time, to obtain the external body shape information of the user as the three-dimensional data by photographing the light of the lighting system reflected from the user with ocellar cameras and measuring the distance from each point of the user. Further, the current physical information is not limited to the three-dimensional data on the external shape of the body. For example, the external body shape information obtaining means 110 may obtain two-dimensional data as the current physical information.

FIG. 4 shows a functional block diagram of an example of the desired physical information receiving means 200. The desired physical information receiving means 200 includes desired external body shape information obtaining means 210. The desired external body shape information obtaining means 210 receives desired external body shape data as the desired physical information.

The desired physical information receiving means 200 further includes desired body weight information receiving means 220. The desired body weight information receiving means 220 receives desired body weight data indicating the desired body weight as the desired physical information.

The desired physical information receiving means 200 further includes desired body fat receiving means 230. The desired body fat receiving means 230 receives desired body fat percentage data indicating the desired body fat percentage as the desired physical information. Moreover, the received information is not limited to the body fat percentage (FAT %), and Lean Body Mass (LBM) may be received.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a display 230 when the desired physical information is received to the desired physical information receiving means 200. On the left of the display 230, the information of the current body based on the three-dimensional data on the external shape of the current body, the current body weight data and the current body fat percentage data obtained by the current physical information obtaining means 100 is displayed. The desired physical information receiving means 200 displays a line 230A representing the external shape of the body based on the current body information.

The desired physical information receiving means 200 displays a line 230B representing the external shape of the body based on the desired physical information on the right of the display 230 as an initial display like the current body information. The desired physical information receiving means 200 receives the desired external body shape data as the desired physical information, as the user drags and deforms a point on the line 230B representing the external shape of the body using a touch pad or a mouse. Accordingly, since the user can input his or her desired external body shape while recognizing it in real time, it is easy to perform adjustment for a desired external body shape, and particularly for a user who requires to be provided with an exercise program to improve his or her body shape, it is considerably expected to increase motivation or satisfaction for the calculated exercise program.

However, the input method of the desired external body shape is not limited to this. Alternatively, as the desired external body shape data in the form of a numeric value desired with respect to breast, waist, hip, etc. is received through a numeric keypad. In the same way, the desired body weight and the desired body fat percentage, for example, are received through a numeric keypad in the form of numeric values desired with respect to the body weight and the body fat percentage. In this case, on the right of the display 230, the desired physical information based on the desired external body shape data, the desired body weight data and the desired body fat percentage data obtained by the desired physical information receiving means 200 is displayed. It is possible for a user to visually understand the desired physical information by displaying the desired physical information received on the display 230.

The display means 400 may perform the display 230. However, it is not limited to this, and display means other than the display means 400 may perform the display 230.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a history 610 stored in the history storing means 600. In the history 610, a user ID for specifying a user, a date when the history is updated and current physical information on the date relate to each other.

FIG. 7 shows an example of an exercised region table 910 stored in the exercised region table storing means 900. In the exercised region table 910, the kind of exercise and the corresponding strength of exercise on a plurality of regions of a body are stored. The kind of exercise is, for example, crawl, squat, etc. The regions of a body are, for example, an arm as a region 1, a leg as a region 2, etc. With regard to the strength of exercise on a plurality of regions of a body, for example, if the strength of exercise on each region in case of the crawl is considered to be one, the strength of exercise on each region in the case of other kinds of exercise such as the squat becomes the relative value thereof.

FIG. 8 shows an example of a calorie consumption table 960 stored in the calorie consumption table storing means 950. The calorie consumption table 960 is a series of data in which the kind of exercise and the corresponding calorie consumption when the exercise is done is stored. The kind of exercise is, for example, crawl, squat, etc. The calorie consumption is, for example, the calorie per minute (kcal/min) consumed while the crawl or squat enumerated as the kind of exercise is being done.

If the exercise support system 10 is equipped in an exercise facility such as a gym, the exercised region table storing means 900 and the calorie consumption table storing means 950 may store the exercised region table 910 and calorie consumption table 960 related to each kind of exercise provided by the exercise facility.

The exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the exercise program based on the current physical information obtained by the current physical information obtaining means 100 and the desired physical information received by the desired physical information receiving means 200.

The exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the kind of exercise and the exercise time of that kind of exercise as the exercise program. The exercise program calculating means 300, for example, compares the current external body shape data with the desired external body shape data and calculates as the exercise program a combination of the kind of exercise and the exercise time, which decreases the difference between the current external body shape data and the desired external body shape data, referring to the exercised region table 910 and calorie consumption table 960.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart exemplary showing the process that the exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the exercise program. First, the exercise program calculating means 300 compares the current external body shape data obtained by the current physical information obtaining means 100 with the desired external body shape data received by the desired physical information receiving means 200 and specifies a region of the body at which the difference between them is the largest (S100). Then, exercise program calculating means 300 selects the kind of exercise, referring to the exercised region table 910 stored in the exercised region table storing means 900, so that the specified region of the body is exercised the most (S120). Further, for the kind of exercise selected the exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the exercise time and the calorie consumption, referring to the calorie consumption table 960 stored in the calorie consumption table storing means 950 (S140). Then, the exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the change in the body when it is assumed that the exercise is done, using the kind of exercise, the exercise time and the calorie consumption, and renews the current external body shape data (S160)

The exercise program calculating means 300 compares the current external body shape data and the desired external body shape data which have been renewed, specifies a region of the body at which the difference between them is the largest, and repeats the above processes (S100 to S160). As the result of comparing the current external body shape data and the desired external body shape data, the exercise program calculating means 0.300 judges whether or not the difference is equal to or less than a predetermined value with respect to the region of the body at which the difference is the largest (S110). If the exercise program calculating means 300 judges that the difference is equal to or less than the predetermined value, it stores the kind of exercise selected until then and the calculated exercise time (S180), and the above processes are finished.

For example, if the leg with respect to the received desired external body shape data is slenderer than the obtained current external body shape data, the exercise program calculating means 300 selects the crawl or squat as the kind of exercise of the exercise program and calculates the exercise time of the squat so that it is longer than the crawl.

Although the exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the exercise program based on the current external body shape data and the desired external body shape data in the present embodiment, this invention is not limited to this embodiment. For example, the exercise program calculating means may use any or a combination of the three-dimensional data obtained by the external body shape information obtaining means 110, the current body weight data obtained by the current body weight information obtaining means 120, the current body fat percentage data obtained by the current body fat percentage information obtaining means 130, and the meal data obtained by the meal information obtaining means '140, as the current physical information. If a combination of them is used as the current physical information, the exercise program may be calculated more properly.

Moreover, the exercise program calculating means 300 may use any or a combination of the desired external body shape data received by the desired external body shape information receiving means 210, the desired body weight data received by the desired body weight information receiving means 220, and the desired body fat percentage data received by the desired body fat percentage information receiving means, as desired physical information. If a combination of them is used as the desired physical information, the exercise program for realizing the data item in which the user is interested is properly calculated.

For example, if the difference between the current body fat percentage data and the desired body fat percentage data is large, the exercise program calculating means 300 selects the kind of exercise of which the calorie consumption is large and calculates the exercise program so that the total exercise time is longer. Moreover, if the difference between the current body weight data and the desired body weight data is large, the exercise program calculating means 300 selects the kind of exercise of the whole body and calculates the exercise program so that the total exercise time is longer.

In the present embodiment, the exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the exercise program by referring to either or both the exercised region table 910 stored in the exercised region table storing means 900 or/and the calorie consumption table 960 stored in the calorie consumption table storing means 950. Since the tables stored in advance are used, the exercise program is calculated at a higher speed.

The exercise program calculating means 300 may calculate the exercise program further based on the surface area calculated by the surface area calculating means 500. Since the surface area of the body which can be one of the parameters for calculation of the calorie consumed by the exercise is considered, the exercise program is calculated more properly.

Further, the exercise program calculating means 300 may refer to the history 610 stored in the history storing means 600 as well to calculate the exercise program. In this case, when it is judged from the history 610 that the effect of the calculated exercise program does not increase, the exercise program can be changed during the process.

An example of calculating the exercise program referring to the history 610 will be described. The exercise program calculating means 300 equally divides the exercise time of the calculated exercise program based on the current physical information and the desired physical information by a predetermined number of days from a reference date. The predetermined number of days may be fixed, for example, 60 days, or received as an input from a user and read by the exercise program calculating means 300. The exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the change in the body when it is assumed that the exercise program has been practiced as long as the divided exercise time. The exercise program calculating means 300 makes intermediate physical information based on the change in the body and the current physical information. The exercise program calculating means 300 stores the intermediate physical information so that the reference date and the corresponding number of days from the reference date are stored. The exercise program calculating means 300 compares the intermediate physical information after a specific number of days from the reference date with the current physical information on the same date as the history 610 stored in the history storing means 600. As the result of the comparison, if the exercise program calculating means 300 judges that the effect of the calculated exercise program does not increase, it calculates the exercise program again. For example, the exercise program calculating means 300 may comprehensively increase or decrease the exercise time for all of the items enumerated as the exercise program.

With respect to the calculation of the exercise program calculating means 300, if the exercise program calculating means 300 refers to each of the exercised region table 910 and the calorie consumption table 960 related to the kind of exercise provided in exercise facility in which the exercise support system 10 is installed, the calculated exercise program may be the kind of exercise which can be provided in the exercise facility. In this case, a user can practice the kind of exercise of the calculated exercise program in the exercise facility.

Here, the meal program calculating means 350 calculates meal to be taken and the calorie intake of the meal based on the current physical information, the desired physical information and the exercise program from the exercise program calculating means 300. For example, based on the current physical information, the desired physical information and the exercise program, if a user develops more muscles, the meal program calculating means 350 calculates the meal program so that the user takes more protein. Moreover, in another example, based on the current physical information, the desired physical information and the exercise program, if a user is put on a diet, the meal program calculating means 350 calculates the meal program so that the user eats required nutrients, in which the total calorie intake is low.

FIG. 10 shows an example of an exercise program display 410 performed by the display means 400. The display means 400 performs the exercise program display 410 based on the calculated exercise program in the exercise program calculating means 300. In the example of FIG. 10, the display means 400 displays the kind of exercise and the exercise time of that kind of exercise as the exercise program. The display means 400 further displays the meal to be taken and the calorie intake as the meal program. By displaying the meal to be taken and the calorie intake, the user can be surely closer to the desired external body shape.

The display means 400 may display the desired physical information with the exercise program at the same time. Accordingly, the user can be motivated to do exercise according to the exercise program.

The exercise program calculating means 300 may calculate the exercise program so that it is different between the left and right regions of the body, based on the laterality detected by the laterality detecting means 700. For example, it is assumed that an imbalance between left and right in the development of muscles is detected in the current external body shape obtained by the external body shape information obtaining means 110. In this case, the exercise program calculating means 300 calculates the exercise program by selecting the kind of exercise of strengthening the left or right muscle to correct the imbalance. Accordingly, although there is an imbalance between the left and right of the external body shape of the user, it is possible to calculate the exercise program to make the body balanced.

As stated above, according to the first embodiment, the exercise support system can easily and surely present the user with the relationship between the desired external body shape and the exercise program. Moreover, according to the first embodiment, the exercise support system can allow the user to visually recognize the exercise program for achievement of the desired future external body shape.

FIG. 11 shows a functional block diagram of an exercise support system 12 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The exercise support system 12 includes current physical information obtaining means 100, exercise program receiving means 202, future physical information calculating means 302, and presenting means 403. The current physical information obtaining means 100 obtains current physical information of a user. The exercise program receiving means 202 receives an exercise program of the user. The future physical information calculating means 302 calculates future physical information as the physical information if the user exercises according to the exercise program, based on the obtained current physical information and the received exercise program. The presenting means 403 presents the calculated future physical information. The exercise support system 12 further includes surface area calculating means 500, history storing means 600, laterality detecting means 700, exercised region table storing means 900 and calorie consumption table storing means 950. The exercise support system 12 further includes external body shape change table storing means 962 for storing an external body shape change table, in which the exercise program and corresponding three-dimensional data of the change in the external body shape are stored, and measurements change table storing means 970 for storing a measurements change table in which the exercise program and corresponding numeric value data on the change in the breast, waist and hip measurements are stored.

Here, the current physical information obtaining means 100, the presenting means 403, the surface area calculating means 500, the history storing means 600, the laterality detecting means 700, the exercised region table storing means 900, and the calorie consumption table storing means 950 are the same as those of the exercise support system 10 of the first embodiment, so they will not be described.

The presenting means 403 includes display means 400 for displaying the future physical information and future physical information storing means 802 for storing the future physical information. The future physical information storing means 802 stores the future physical information calculated by the future physical information calculating means 302 so that the future physical information corresponds to the user. The medium used for storage is not particularly limited. Further, the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment in that it is convenient to use when a portable medium such as an IC card is used as the storage medium.

FIG. 12 shows a functional block diagram of an example of the exercise program receiving means 202. The exercise program receiving means 202 includes kind-of-exercise receiving means 212. The kind-of-exercise receiving means 212 receives the kind of exercise and the exercise time of that kind of exercise as the exercise program. The exercise program receiving means 202 further includes meal program receiving means 222. The meal program receiving means 222 receives the meal to be taken and the calorie intake of the meal as the exercise program.

The future physical information calculating means 302 calculates the future physical information based on the current physical information obtained by the current physical information obtaining means 100 and the exercise program received by the exercise program receiving means 202.

Here, the future physical information calculating means 302 uses any or a combination of the three-dimensional data obtained by the external body shape information obtaining means 110, the current body weight data obtained by the current body weight information obtaining means 120, the current body fat percentage data obtained by the current body fat percentage information obtaining means 130, and the meal data obtained by the meal information obtaining means 140, as the current physical information. If a combination is used as the current physical information, the future physical information is calculated more properly.

Further, the future physical information calculating means 302 uses any or a combination of the kind of exercise and the exercise time received by the kind-of-exercise receiving means 212 and the meal to be taken and the calorie intake received by the meal program receiving means 222 as the exercise program. If a combination is used as the exercise program, the future physical information is calculated more properly.

The future physical information calculating means 302 calculates the future physical information by referring to either or both the exercised region table 910 stored in the exercised region table storing means 900 and the calorie consumption table 960 stored in the calorie consumption table storing means 950. Since the tables stored in advance are used, the future physical information is calculated at a higher speed.

The future physical information calculating means 302, for example, calculates the change in the body after the practice of the exercise program from the kind of exercise and the exercise time of the exercise program, referring to the exercised region table 910 and the calorie consumption table 960, and obtains the future external body shape data.

For example, if the crawl and squat are input as the kind of exercise of the exercise program, in which the exercise time for the squat is longer than the crawl, the future physical information calculating means 302 calculates the three-dimensional data on the external body shape so that the leg is thinner than that of the current external body shape data.

The future physical information calculating means 302 may calculate the future physical information further based on the surface area calculated by the surface area calculating means 500. Since the surface area of the body which can be one of the parameters for calculation of the calorie consumed by the exercise is considered, the future physical information is calculated more properly.

Further, the future physical information calculating means 302 may calculate the future physical information by referring to the history 610 stored in the history storing means 600. In this case, since the history 610 is known, the user can understand the effect caused by the practice of the exercise program.

The future physical information calculating means 302 may further calculate either or both the body weight and the body fat percentage as the future physical information. For example, the future physical information calculating means 302 includes a table in advance, in which the calorie consumption and the corresponding change in the body weight are stored, and calculates the body weight from the current body weight data and the total calorie consumption of the exercise program referring to the table. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the future physical information calculating means 302 may calculate the body weight from the future external body shape information. In the same way, the future physical information calculating means 302 includes a table in advance, in which the calorie consumption and the corresponding body fat percentage are stored, and calculates the body fat percentage from the current body fat percentage data and the total calorie consumption of the exercise program referring to the table. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment like the calculation of the body weight.

Further, the future physical information calculating means 302 may calculate the three-dimensional data as the future physical information based on the received exercise program, referring to the external body shape change table stored in the external body shape change table storing means 962. For example, the external body shape change table storing means 962 stores a predetermined exercise program and an average change in the external body shape for that exercise program as the external body shape change table. The future physical information calculating means 302 calculates the three-dimensional data as the future physical information, based on the received exercise program, by referring to the change in the external body shape of the external body shape change table and making the change affect the current external body shape information. Moreover, since the calorie consumption is one of the parameters of the change in the external body shape, the external body shape change table storing means 962 may store an average change in the external body shape per the calorie consumption as the external body shape change table.

Moreover, the future physical information calculating means 302 may calculate the three-dimensional data as the future physical information based on the received exercise program, referring to the measurements external body shape change table stored in the measurements change table storing means 970. For example, the measurements change table storing means 970 stores a predetermined exercise program and an average change in breast, waist and hip for that exercise program as the measurements change table. The future physical information calculating means 302 calculates numeral value data of the breast, waist and hip as the future physical information, based on the received exercise program, by referring to the change in breast, waist and hip of the measurements change table and making the change affect the current external body shape. Further, since the calorie consumption is one of the parameters for the change in breast, waist and hip, the measurements change table storing means 960 may store an average change in the external body shape of the breast, waist and hip per calorie consumption as the external body shape change table. Accordingly, the exercise support system 10 can present the future physical information by the data in which the user is interested in.

FIG. 13 shows an example of a future physical information display 420 performed by the display means 400. The display means 400 performs the future physical information display 420 based on the future physical information calculated by the future physical information calculating means 302. In the example of FIG. 13, the display means 400 displays based on the three-dimensional data as the future physical information. The display means 400 may display either or both the body weight or/and the body fat percentage calculated by the future physical information calculating means 302. The display means 400 may display the current physical information with the future physical information at the same time. Accordingly, the user can be motivated to do exercise according to the exercise program.

The future physical information calculating means 302 may calculate the future physical information, so that it is different between the left and right regions of the body, based on the laterality detected by the laterality detecting means 700 and the exercise program received by the exercise program receiving means 202 and different between the left and right regions of the body. In this case, the user can recognize whether there is any imbalance of the future external body shape between the left and right regions of the body of the user.

As stated above, according to the second embodiment, the same effects as the first embodiment are achieved. Particularly, according to the second embodiment, the exercise support system can present the user with relationship between the exercise program and the future external body shape easily and surely. Moreover, if a user exercises according to a specific exercise program, the exercise support system can allow the user to visually recognize how the future external body shape becomes.

FIG. 14 shows a block diagram of a hardware configuration of the exercise support system 14 according to a third embodiment. The exercise support system 14 includes a CPU 20, a ROM 30, a RAM 40, a communication interface 50, an input-output port 70, and a hard disk drive 60. The CPU 20 operates based on a program stored in the ROM 30 and the RAM 40. The communication interface 50 communicates with an external part via communication networks. As an example of a storing device the hard disk drive 60 stores the program by which the CPU 20 operates. The input-output port 70 receives and sends data from and to the display means 400 which is provided outside.

The exercise support system 14 further includes a flexible disk drive 90 and a CD-ROM drive 80. The flexible disk drive 90 reads data or a program from a flexible disk 92 and provides it to the CPU 20. The communication interface 50 sends and receives data coupled to the Internet.

The software stored and provided on a recording medium, that is, the software installed in the hard disk drive 60 includes, as the functional configuration, current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information on the current body of a user, desired physical information receiving means for receiving desired physical information on the desired body of the user, exercise program calculating means for calculating an exercise program based on the obtained current physical information and the received desired physical information, and display means for displaying the calculated exercise program. Alternatively, the software includes, as the functional configuration, current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information of a user, exercise program receiving means for receiving an exercise program of the user, future physical information calculating means for calculating future physical information as the physical information when the user exercises according to the exercise program, based on the obtained current physical information and the received exercise program, and display means for displaying the future physical information. The software is an example of the program of the exercise support system related to the present invention. The processes executed by the CPU 20 according to each step included in the software are the same as the functions and operations of the corresponding members of the exercise support system 14 of each embodiment, so they will not be described.

As stated above, the flexible disk 92 or the CD-ROM 82 as an example of the recording medium in FIG. 14 can store all or a part of functions and operations of the exercise support system 14 according to all of the embodiments described herein.

This program may be read and executed from the recording medium directly by the RAM, or first installed in the hard disk drive and then read and executed by the RAM. Further, this program may be stored in one or a plurality of recording mediums. Moreover, each step of the program stored on the recording medium may provide each of the functions with an operating system. For example, the program may request the operating system to perform all or a part of the functions and provide the functions based on the response from the operating system.

As the recording medium, in addition to the flexible disk and the CD-ROM, an optical recording medium such as a DVD, a magnetic recording medium such as an MD, an magneto optical recording medium such as a PD, a tape medium, a magnetic recording medium, a semiconductor memory such as an IC card or a miniature card, etc. can be used. This recording medium is an example of the recoding medium related to the present invention. Moreover, with a storing device such as a hard disk drive or a RAM provided in a server system, which is coupled to a dedicated communication network or the Internet, used as the recording medium, the program may be provided to the exercise support system 14 via communication networks.

As obvious from the above description, according to the present invention, the exercise support system can easily and surely present a user with the relationship between an exercise program and a future external shape of the body.

Although the present invention has been described by way of exemplary embodiments, it should be understood that those skilled in the art might make many changes and substitutions without departing from the spirit and the scope of present invention, which is defined only by the appended claims. 

1. An exercise support system comprising: current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information on a current body of a user; desired physical information receiving means for receiving desired physical information on a body desired by the user; exercise program calculating means for calculating an exercise program based on the obtained current physical information and the received desired physical information; and presenting means for presenting the calculated exercise program.
 2. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises external body shape information obtaining means for obtaining data on a current external body shape of the user as the current physical information, and said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the data.
 3. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said external body shape information obtaining means obtains three-dimensional data on the current external body shape of the user.
 4. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 3, further comprising surface area calculating means for calculating a current surface area of the user based on the three-dimensional data obtained by said external body shape information obtaining means, wherein said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the calculated surface area, the obtained current physical information, and the received desired physical information.
 5. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said desired physical information receiving means comprises desired external body shape information obtaining means for receiving desired external body shape data as the desired physical information, and said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the received desired external body shape data.
 6. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 0.1, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises current body weight information obtaining means for obtaining current body weight data indicating current body weight of the user as the current physical information, and said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the obtained current body weight data.
 7. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said desired physical information receiving means comprises desired body weight information receiving means for receiving desired body weight data indicating desired body weight as the desired physical information, and said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the received desired body weight data.
 8. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises current body fat percentage information obtaining means for obtaining current body fat percentage data indicating current body fat percentage of the user as the current physical information, and said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the obtained current body fat percentage data.
 9. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said desired physical information receiving means comprises desired body fat receiving means for receiving desired body fat percentage data indicating desired body fat percentage as the desired physical information, and said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the received desired body fat percentage data.
 10. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises meal information obtaining means for obtaining meal data indicating content of current meal of the user as the current physical information, and said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program based on the obtained meal data.
 11. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising history storing means for storing a history of the current physical information of the user, wherein said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program by referring to the history.
 12. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising laterality detecting means for detecting a difference in the obtained data on the current external body shape between left and right regions of the body of the user, wherein said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program, which is different between left and right regions of the body of the user, based on the detected difference between left and right.
 13. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising exercised region table storing means for storing an exercised region table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding strength of exercise on a plurality of regions of the body are stored, wherein said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program by referring to the exercised region table.
 14. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising calorie consumption table storing means for storing a calorie consumption table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding calorie consumption are stored, wherein said exercise program calculating means calculates the exercise program by referring to the calorie consumption table.
 15. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said exercise program calculating means calculates a kind of exercise and an exercise time for the kind of exercise as the exercise program.
 16. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 15 further comprising meal program calculating means for calculating meal to be taken and a calorie intake of the meal based on the obtained current physical information, the received desired physical information, and the calculated exercise program.
 17. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said presenting means comprises display means for displaying the calculated exercise program.
 18. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said presenting means comprises exercise program storing means for storing the calculated exercise program which corresponds to the user.
 19. An exercise support system comprising: current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information of a user; exercise program receiving means for receiving an exercise program of the user; future physical information calculating means for calculating future physical information, which is physical information when the user has exercised according to the exercise program, based on the obtained current physical information and the received exercise program; and presenting means for presenting the future physical information.
 20. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises external body shape information obtaining means for obtaining data on a current external body shape of the user as the current physical information, and said future physical information calculating means calculates future physical information based on the data.
 21. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said external body shape information obtaining means obtains three-dimensional data on the current external body shape of the user.
 22. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 21, further comprising surface area calculating means for calculating a current surface area of the user based on the three-dimensional data obtained by said external body shape information obtaining means, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information based on the calculated surface area, the obtained current physical information, and the received exercise program.
 23. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises current body weight information obtaining means for obtaining body weight data indicating current body weight of the user as the current physical information, and said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information based on the obtained body weight data.
 24. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises current body fat percentage information obtaining means for obtaining body fat percentage data indicating current body fat percentage of the user as the current physical information, and said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information based on the obtained body fat percentage data.
 25. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said current physical information obtaining means comprises meal information obtaining means for obtaining meal data indicating content of current meal of the user as the current physical information, and said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information based on the obtained meal data.
 26. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising history storing means for storing a history of the current physical information of the user, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information by referring to the history.
 27. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 20, further comprising laterality detecting means for detecting a difference in the obtained data on the current external body shape between left and right regions of the body of the user, wherein said exercise program receiving means receives the exercise program which is different between left and right regions of the body, and said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information, which is different between left and right regions of the body, based on the detected difference between left and right and the received exercise program.
 28. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said exercise program receiving means comprises kind-of-exercise receiving means for receiving a kind of exercise and an exercise time for the kind of exercise as the exercise program, and said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information based on the kind of exercise and the received exercise time.
 29. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said exercise program receiving means comprises meal program receiving means for receiving meal to be taken and a calorie intake of the meal as the exercise program, and said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information based on the meal to be taken and the received calorie intake.
 30. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising exercised region table storing means for storing an exercised region table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding strength of exercise on a plurality of regions of the body are stored, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information by referring to the exercised region table.
 31. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising calorie consumption table storing means for storing a calorie consumption table in which a kind of exercise and corresponding calorie consumption are stored, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates the future physical information by referring to the calorie consumption table.
 32. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising external body shape change table storing means for storing an external body shape change table in which the exercise program and corresponding three-dimensional data on a change in the external body shape are stored, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates three-dimensional data as the future physical information by referring to the external body shape change table.
 33. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, further comprising measurements change table storing means for storing a measurements change table in which the exercise program and corresponding numeric value data on changes in breast, waist and hip are stored, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates numeric value data on breast, waist and hip as the future physical information by referring to the measurements change table.
 34. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates body fat percentage as the future physical information.
 35. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said future physical information calculating means calculates body weight as the future physical information.
 36. An exercise support system as claimed in one of claims 19 to 35, wherein said presenting means comprises display means for displaying the calculated future physical information.
 37. An exercise support system as claimed in claim 19, wherein said presenting means comprises future physical information storing means for storing the calculated future physical information.
 38. A machine readable medium storing thereon a program for allowing a computer to function as: current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information on a current body of a user; desired physical information receiving means for receiving desired physical information on a body desired by the user; exercise program calculating means for calculating an exercise program based on the obtained current physical information and the received desired physical information; and presenting means for presenting the calculated exercise program.
 39. A machine readable medium storing thereon a program for allowing a computer to function as: current physical information obtaining means for obtaining current physical information of a user; exercise program receiving means for receiving an exercise program of the user; future physical information calculating means for calculating future physical information, which is physical information when the user has exercised according to the exercise program, based on the obtained current physical information and the received exercise program; and presenting means for presenting the future physical information. 